Sermon 15th November – 25th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: 1
Thessalonians 5:1-11 – Living in hope
As we
move towards the end of the Church Year we notice that the tone of the readings
begin to focus on the end times which usually come with a warning. And Paul
does begin with a warning in our 2nd Reading” For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. But Paul doesn't
leave us with just a warning; he provides us with the divine armour we need so
we don’t live in fear. He says, since we
belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and
love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. It’s very similar to what Paul
says to the Ephesians in chapter 6 where he talks about the spiritual warfare
we face and the armour of God that God provides: He says: For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand.
This is
not a waiting game. We don’t just sit and wait for Jesus to return. This is an
active, equipped existence. Paul calls
us to put on spiritual armour which means we are in an active battle. We aren’t
given chairs to sit and wait – but armour. A soldier in Paul’s time was given a
breastplate protecting their vital organs. Our breastplate is made of two
powerful elements to protect us: faith and love. Faith is our belief in God's
promises, in His power, and in His victory over Satan whose greatest weapon is
lies. It shields us from doubt, despair, and the enemy's attempts to convince
us that God has forgotten us or that our efforts are in vain. It’s his biggest
weapon – we know that from Genesis – did God really say?
St Peter
warned his readers about the same tactics of Satan: In 2nd Peter he said – Above all, you must understand that in the
last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors
died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. Our faith
trusts in God’s plan, even when we can't see the whole picture. God's love for
us and our love for Him and for one another, is another vital defense. It
protects our hearts from bitterness, selfishness, and the destructive effects
of sin.
When we
are rooted in love, we are motivated to do good, to serve, and to reflect
Christ's character, which is the ultimate weapon against darkness. And that’s
why Paul says: you are all children of light and children of the day; we are
not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do,
but let us keep awake. God has also given us the Helmet of Hope of Salvation: Hope
is not wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation. It’s not like hoping
for something that may or may not happen. We have the sure promise of eternal
life and redemption through Jesus Christ because it has already happened. As
Paul says in Romans 6 - we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he
cannot die again; death no longer has power over him.
This
hope anchors our minds, preventing us from being swayed by the anxieties and
uncertainties of the present time. It allows us to face challenges with
confidence, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. Paul then
clarifies God's ultimate purpose for us, a truth that strengthens our hope: For
God has not destined us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live
with him." Jesus says the same in John Chapter 3 - For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. This is the heart of
the Gospel!
The day
of the Lord is a day of judgment, yes, but for those who are in Christ, it is
not a day of wrath. It is the fulfilment of His plan. Jesus died for us,
bearing the wrath we deserved, so that we might be saved. God made him who had
no sin to become our sin so we could become his righteousness. His sacrifice
bridges the gap between God's holiness and our sinfulness. Something nothing
else can do. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
The
phrase "whether we are awake or asleep" is so reassuring. It speaks
to the assuring nature of Christ’s salvation. Whether we are living in conscious, vibrant
faith when He returns, or if we have fallen asleep in death before His second
coming, our salvation is secure. Christ's
death is sufficient for all who believe. We will live with Him, eternally united. This truth should bring us immense comfort and
peace. And it’s forever.
Always
the bible speaks of this truth. Earlier Paul said: For the Lord himself will
descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
King David said the same – I will dwell
in the house of the Lord – “FOREVER”
So, Paul
concludes with a practical application for living in light of the Day of the
Lord: Therefore encourage one another
and build one another up, just as you are doing." Encouraging in these
times is so important. We’ve seen so many leave the church for a variety of
reasons. Again, nothing new as we see in the book of Hebrews speaking about the
coming judgment: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who
promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit
of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.
So, this
is not a solitary journey. Our faith is
not meant to be practiced in isolation. That’s
why Jesus chose 12 disciples. Why he never sent them out alone. Told them to wait till the coming of the Holy
Spirit as their helper. We are called to be a community of faith, actively
supporting and strengthening each other. This means speaking words of hope to
each other. Comforting one another. Affirming each other and not tearing one
another down. It means reminding each
other of God's faithfulness and the promises of His Word. Staying strong
because of the glorious future that awaits us.
In a
world that can be discouraging, we are called to be beacons of encouragement. We
are called to build one another up. This means strengthening each other's
faith, helping each other to grow spiritually, and supporting each other
through trials. It means offering prayer
and hope. It means creating an
environment where each believer can flourish in their walk with Christ. The
Thessalonians were already doing this, and Paul commends them. The Thessalonians are an example for us to
follow of a healthy, active church body.
The Day
of the Lord is not a distant, abstract concept. It is coming. It is a present
day reality that should shape our present lives. As Paul says – NOW is the day of salvation. We
are not children of darkness, meant to be surprised by its arrival. We are
children of light, called to be awake, sober, and armed with faith, love, and
the unwavering hope of salvation. Let us not sleep in spiritual complacency. Let us live with our eyes fixed on Jesus, our
hearts filled with His love, and our minds anchored in the certainty of His
return.
As we
leave and return to our worldly lives, let us carry this hope with us. Let us be the "children of day,"
shining our light brightly in a world that so desperately needs it. Let us encourage one another, build one
another up, and live in such a way that when the Day of the Lord comes we are
ready.
